rather than pick out individual stocks to trade, it can often be worthwhile to trade the indices themselves, especially in times of high volatility.

for those so inclined, i attach below charts for FTSE and FTSE 250, though one might equally be tempted to trade Dow or S&P, which is significantly broader in its coverage, or even NASDAQ

for ease of reading, i have attached 1 year and 3 month charts in each instance

out +35

splat you should have stayed short.

I am still short with a good trailing stop.

I'm not playing the DOW today - I'm off to London shortly, for ex colleague's 60th.

yeah, you're probably right BM. Will look to get back in on another rise though, or further weakness, for that matter!

Easy to lose money spreadbetting the DOW, tight trailing stop works for me, in and out in and out is too messy for me. It looks like one way today.

A nice 85 points gain, can't lose now with my trailing stop, unless there is a massive spike up.

FTSE at the days lows.

130 points drop from their opening 20 mins.when we close they'll go up.

120 tics profit for me ATM

well done Bernard.

Thank's i need to have a pee, if i had known it would tank this much i would have my bucket under the dest ready, and it's Friday soon more downside i think.

You need one of these -

lol.

Looking good Bernard well done mate!

Thank's CC 190 points in profit wish i had gambled more than 10 a point.

wish I hadn't played golf, lifes a bitch and then you die eh! :O)

Looks like the FTSE is going to take another bashing Friday.

I try to play golf Sat or Sun, can relax more instead of dragging my ipad 2 along in my bag hoping for a good connection.

There is a guy on Bloomberg predicting DOW price of 3800, scary.

He thinks it will be many times worse that the dot com boom.

DOW Short closed at 10993 never thought it would move down that much thank you USA.